Nina might have been caught unprepared by the news of Alice's advancement, but she only thought of it as a mistake in the information from the clan. She wasn't nearly as shocked as Endor was.
No! The more exceptional she was, the more the reason to kill her off!
A cold gleam reflected in Nina's crystal blue eyes.
"Three hundred thousand. As long as you are willing to give up on Alice, I will……"
"Lady Nina, are you sure that a witch-level candidate for the Witch of Fate is only worth three hundred thousand?" Greem's words were dripping with sarcasm.
Nina's mouth twitched.
"Four hundred thousand!"
Greem didn't reply, but the disdain in his eyes said it all.
"Five hundred…" Nina was already grinding her teeth together. The little bit of admiration she had for Greem disappeared. The ferocious glare she was directing at Greem was like that of a predator in a dark forest.
Five hundred thousand magic crystals! This price was more than enough to hire a Second Grade adept to serve as a bodyguard for two entire years!
Sanazar's sinister laugh rang out from within the mist.
It seemed even she couldn't remain unfazed but the sum of money that Nina offered!
Endor's mouth just opened wider and wider. Her brain couldn't quite process what she saw with how bizarre things had started to turn out.
My good god. Five hundred thousand magic crystals. Even with her fearsome reputation and her station at the Zhentarim area, the Moya Clan only paid her three thousand crystals a year. And this Witch Nina was willing to use five hundred thousand magic crystals to exchange for a newly-advanced witch?
Five hundred thousand magic crystals were probably half of the Moya Clan's annual earnings in the Zhentarim area!
Greem's low, cold voice was once again transmitted to everyone's ears, even as Endor's brain still tried to process the difference between three thousand and five hundred thousand.
"I still reject your offer!"
"Why?" Witch Nina's eyes were bloodshot. She marched forward and stared into Greem's eyes with almost no distance between the two of them. The tips of their noses almost touched.
"Why?" Even Endor mumbled by the side. Truthfully, she also wanted to know why at this point.
"Because I have fallen in love with Alice!"
Greem's words were like a bolt of lightning that split the sky apart. The entire place fell dead silent!
Chapter 325
A deathly silence washed over the entire place, followed by Nina's hysterical laughter.
"You. What did you say? You fell in love… with Alice? Haha…that is way too funny."
The green mist remained unmoving.
Endor's ugly wrinkled face was completely frozen. Even her muddy eyeballs didn't move.
On the other hand, Greem was calm and solemn. It was difficult to read his emotions with the serious face he presented.
Nina straightened her body midway through her laughter. She looked around her and finally fixed her gaze upon Greem.
"Did you mean what you said? You weren't joking…" Nina questioned doubtfully.
Greem nodded without betraying a single emotion. It didn't seem like a facade at all.
Nina rubbed her head and her eyes. She ground her teeth, but she found herself incapable of saying anything mean.
An adept that would give up everything for love, existing in this day and age? Save your lies to dupe the idiots! You would only find such a person in the novels of ordinary men. In reality…
Nina could have confidently exposed Greem's 'lies'. However, there was a small voice in her heart that kept whispering to her that this wasn't impossible.
This conflicting feeling caused her to become increasingly frustrated and annoyed!
A peerless, murderous aura emanated from the green mist.
The existence of Third Grade Sanazar was like a bowl of bone-chilling water. It instantly extinguished any delusions and malignant thoughts that Nina might have had!
"Well, very well." For a moment, even Witch Nina didn't quite know what to say. She climbed onto her thunder roc with difficulty and left one last provocation as she did so, "Protect your love then. I will see you again."
Having finished speaking, Nina rode the Second Grade magical creature, that harnessed the immense powers of thunder, and took to the skies with a deafening boom of thunder. The roc dashed into the clouds and vanished at the edge of the horizon within moments.
The stunned Endor still wanted to have some words with Greem after Nina's departure. However, she felt the oppressive aura from within the green mist.
Endor had no choice but to get on her magic broom. She wanted to say something but quickly left after leaving one last sentence, "Alice is still young."
A mild breeze blew through the woods, and the trees waved in the winds.
Only two people remained on the previously crowded cliff.
Greem stood awkwardly on top of the cliff. He silently waited for the last round of questioning.
"Why?" The question finally landed.
"My Lady, how would you choose between five hundred thousand magic crystals and the goodwill of the Witches of Fate?" Greem didn't dare to run his mouth off when it was Sanazar that stood before him. After all, she had continuously protected him in several past conflicts.
He had no choice. Greem had to come up with a massive lie to silence the Northern Witches. The adepts were pragmatic beings. They would never believe someone's words if they didn't have a good reason!
Since the Northern Witches were certain that Greem had ulterior motives in protecting Alice, he had to come up with an explanation worthwhile enough and massive enough to deceive them. Otherwise, they would continue to suspect and doubt the actual motives behind his actions. The excuse of love was both clichéd and hilarious. However, it also happened to be the perfect excuse to shut the Northern Witches up.
You suspect me of having ulterior motives? Well, I indeed have ulterior motives. What I want is Alice herself!
This excuse might be over the top, but it was sufficient to stop any thoughts of negotiation that the witches might have had.
That said, this excuse definitely wouldn't work with Sanazar!
Greem would not experience a particularly good ending if he dared to claim that love was his reason for protecting Alice. He was sure that the temperamental Sanazar would crush him with a single blow if he said something as ridiculous as that.
To entrench the Sarubo Clan in a conflict because of a non-existent love affair! Anyone would be frustrated at the thought of making enemies in such a random manner.
Greem had no choice but to talk in terms of practical benefits when it came to Sanazar.
Cold and disdainful laughter came from within the mist.
"You can guarantee that Alice will be able to survive the Battle of Fate? Why is it that I have heard rumors of her sacrificing all her powers to advance successfully!? Are you sure a useless fool like her can live to see the throne of Witch of Fate?"
An agreement between Greem and Alice actually limited the information that Sanazar had. They wouldn't reveal the existence of the mutated spacestone. Alice's number one trump card should never be leaked until she became the Witch of Fate!
"She can and she will! I guarantee it!" Greem answered firmly.
"On what grounds?"
"On the steel golem that I am crafting for her right at this moment! I will also allow her to use my Infernal Tyrant!"
"Er……"
Sanazar had witnessed Greem's Infernal Tyrant in action as well. In fact, she wholly approved of its abilities. It was no problem for the Tyrant to take on an elite adept in a one-on-one duel!
If Greem were able to personally tailor a steel golem for Alice, with what skill he has displayed so far, she would be in an extremely advantageous position. The twin threats of the steel golem and the Infernal Tyrant were incomparably fearsome! Even a fool would participate in the Battle of Fate with su
ch might at their side.
Sanazar fell silent once more.
Her voice finally rang out from the mist after an extended period of consideration.
"When you succeed, I want the permanent management rights to the territories of the Witch of Fate. The Sarubo Clan can bear the burden of all the resources you need to craft the steel golem. I can guarantee Alice's safety as long as she remains in the Sarubo Clan. It is settled then!"
Sanazar didn't even give Greem a chance to reply. The green mist rose to the skies once she finished speaking, and disappeared from the spot in the blink of an eye.
…………
It was Alice and Snorlax that waited for Greem when he finally returned to his dwelling.
The two of them held a set of tarot cards in their hands. It seemed they were entertaining themselves with a card game.
Alice had stuck all sorts of stickers onto Snorlax's green face. Alice, on the other hand, hadn't seemed to have lost a single game. In fact, she was still in the mood to eat an apple as she played. A large pile of odd little gadgets was placed right in front of her. Snorlax wore the bitter expression of a constipated man.
"You are back!" Alice leaped off the chair in her excitement. She ran to Greem's side and lifted her head to ask, "How did the negotiations go?"
Alice's huge eyes blinked as she asked.
"Don't you know how to divine? Can't you see the results without me telling you?" Greem asked curiously.
"Lady Sanazar was present. Her aura was far too powerful. I can't see through the occurrences around her with my abilities right now." Alice's small face instantly soured when she talked about this.
"You aren't afraid of me selling you off?" Greem asked her teasingly.
"Hehehe. I might not be able to divine the exact information I want, but there's always some vague feedback! I only need to know that it's good news for me!" Alice immediately went back to her jovial mood.
"I sold you!" Greem couldn't help but grunt.
"How much did you sell me for? How many magic crystals did they use to buy me? Quick! Tell me…" Alice was suddenly filled with energy.
Behind her, Snorlax trembled as he extended his hands and reached towards the piled up ante on Alice's side.
"What do you think?"
Alice tilted her head and thought for a bit. She extended three fingers but quickly extended another two.
"Fifty thousand!"
Greem smiled as he shook his head.
"Too much or too little?" Alice closed her palm as she betrayed an expression of anxiety.
"Too little!"
Alice was happy to hear this. She lowered her head and thought for a bit before gritting her teeth and saying, "A hundred thousand! The price couldn't possibly be any higher! I know how the Northern Witches are. They might be powerful fighters, but they are all idiots when it comes to making money!"
Her tone dripped with contempt.
Greem shook his head as he added, "I have already told Witch Nina of your advancement to an adept!"
"It was Witch Nina that came? She's one of the more powerful witches amongst the Witches of Deceit!" Alice couldn't help but mumble, "Then it's two hundred thousand?"
Greem shook his head still.
Alice's breath started to become heavy.
She was from the Northern Lands herself. She knew very well what two hundred thousand magic crystals meant to a witch clan.
Don't even mention an ordinary witch. This amount of money was more than enough to hire a Second-grade witch as a bodyguard.
"Three hundred thousand." Alice had practically squeezed these words out through her teeth.
Even Snorlax had stopped his thieving actions to turn and look at Alice. His eyes spilled over with gleaming magical crystals.
If there were three hundred thousand magical crystals piled right here in this room, it would probably be enough to drown him in crystals, wouldn't it?! Was Alice worth this much?
Alice felt like her heart would stop beating when Greem shook his head again.
"Four hundred thousand crystals!" Alice screamed at the top of her lungs.
She even had half a mind to sell herself at this moment.
That was four hundred thousand magical crystals after all!
However, Greem shook his head once more and looked at her pitifully. He then spat out a shocking sum.
"Five hundred thousand! And then I rejected them!"
Alice's breath instantly paused.
The apple she was eating clattered as it fell to the ground and rolled away into the distance.
Snorlax's mouth opened so widely that it was hard to believe that was how his anatomy was supposed to be. Snorlax pointed his finger at Alice, his face full of shock and disbelief.
"Why didn't you sell me? Why didn't you sell me off? Why…" Alice's eyes overflowed with a thick shroud of confusion and inability to comprehend.
Snorlax nodded intensely at Alice's question. He had the same doubts.
Greem smiled bitterly and looked at the solemn Alice. He finally spoke, "Because I feel like you can be worth much more than that!"
Greem then turned to leave the room.
Even though it was a cold and practical reason Greem had left her with, Alice couldn't help but feel her nose twitch. Her tears started to streak down her face without her knowing.
She sobbed as she turned and looked at Snorlax, her only 'relative'.
"My dear Snorlax, would you sell me for five hundred thousand magical crystals?"
Snorlax froze. He frantically nodded then shook his head with all he had. He didn't even know what he wanted to express in the panic he had fallen into. Snorlax instantly covered his head and stopped moving when he saw Alice extending a hand towards him.
She caressed Snorlax's head then left the room; her heart crowded with various emotions.
What was it with today? Why was everyone behaving so weird?
Snorlax scratched his head in confusion. He looked around, and in seeing no one present, he quickly shoved all the ante he had lost in the card game back into his storage belt before sneaking away from the room.
Chapter 326 Conspiracy
North Zhentarim, Ibis City.
Ibis City was the only public city within the Zhentarim area that was within the Northern Lands' proximity. All merchant groups that wanted to make their way into the witch's territory had to set off from here. As such, this city had the highest population of witches among the towns in the center of the Continent.
The Northern Lands were located in the very north of the continent. A vast forest over fifteen thousand kilometers in size stood between them and the center of the Continent. Communication and trade between the Zhentarim and the Northern Lands were particularly tricky due to this.
The Zhentarim and the Silver Union maintained contact with each other through their floating battleships. On the other hand, the Zhentarim and the witches did so through the use of the numerous merchant groups that trudged through the forest.
A tremendous number of adepts and apprentice adepts gathered in Ibis City to protect the merchants from the dangers of the woods. On the one hand, they were able to accumulate wealth by providing their services to the merchants; on the other, they could take the opportunity to refine their combat skills.
Both merchants and adepts benefitted from this arrangement, causing the trade route through the Black Forest to be one of the most lively places in the area!
Within Ibis City.
A hidden room at a Witches of Deceit's outpost.
A giant cloud of black smoke emerged from a magic array on the ground. The smoke quickly coalesced and outlined a beautiful figure wrapped in a royal dress.
The gaze of the person within the smoke was so sharp and piercing that it was hard to stare them in the eyes.
"Nina, the new batch of goods are already on their way. They should arrive in forty-three days. You must send people to receive the items promptly. There are many precious resources amongst the goods t
his time. There are Dreaming Glories, Whispervines, Terrocones, as well as fifty kilograms of Khorium ingots. There's also a large shipment of frost potions. The total estimated value is over 2.8 million magic crystals! Make sure nothing happens to them!"
"Understood, clan leader."
"Also, what has become of the task I handed to you?"
The decisive Nina couldn't help but hesitate when the task was mentioned.
"What is it? Did something happen? Did they kill Fran?" The voice of the lady in the smoke suddenly sharpened.
"No, clan leader, Witch Fran is not dead! They destroyed her body, but her head and soul have been perfectly preserved. She is currently recovering in the outpost."
"Then what problem could there have been?"
"I have offered five hundred thousand magical crystals for Alice of the Moya Clan…" Witch Nina stuttered as she spoke.
“Five hundred thousand? Have you gone mad? The total annual income of the clan is no more than 3.7 million! Did you use five hundred thousand to buy a mere apprentice witch? You…"The lady in the smoke couldn't help but step forward. Her furious voice had risen three octaves higher.
"He rejected the offer!"
"……” The lady in the smoke fell silent. She finally spat coldly after a long period of thought, "What happened exactly? Who is the 'he' you spoke of earlier?"
Witch Nina raised an eyebrow in an expression of helpless frustration. She recounted the details of the occurrence seven days ago.
The lady in the black smoke listened solemnly and couldn't help but ask a question by the end of Nina's story, "He mentioned that the Moya brat has advanced. Is that true?"
"It has been verified. I have even personally infiltrated Feidnan City and obtained first-person confirmation from the apprentice adepts in the city. The Moya brat had to sacrifice all her abilities and talents and barely advanced to a witch. It is said that she obtained the ability to divine in exchange!" Witch Nina couldn't suppress her curiosity when she spoke of this. She asked, "Clan leader, how are things going on Snowlotus' side?"
The lady remained silent for a moment before she finally said, "Snowlotus' frost talent is shocking. She had already advanced to the peak of pseudo-adept awhile ago. Advancement will not be a problem if she prepares and accumulates her powers for another six months…"
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